I am beyond excited to share my kitchen transformation with you all! My 30 year old kitchen was in dire need of a makeover. Sticking to a tight budget of just $100, I gave my kitchen a mini face lift and I’m so pleased with the results! Here is my before and after kitchen remodel on a budget.

My kitchen was a full on disaster. I’m talking exposed wire, open ceilings, oh yeah and BRIGHT GREEN SHELVING. Its safe to say I was breaking a few fire codes. Oops! I finally decided enough is enough! I’m finishing this bad boy. I completely made over my kitchen for under $100. The best part is I did it all by myself. Talk about girl power!

If you want to know how I bought my first home at 23 you can read all about it here. 

Before:

I still cringe when I look at this photo. Like how did I live like this for so long?! Two years ago I did a mini renovation that involved adding a few pot lights, removing popcorn ceiling, and removing a bulkhead above the island. One thing no one will tell you about renovations is that demolition is MUCH easier than putting everything back together. In fact it took me two years to finish the damn thing!

After:

The changes I made were minimal, but they made a HUGE difference. I installed drywall around my post and painted it to match my wall color. I then painted the old shelving a high gloss white and the entire back wall to match the rest of my apartment. Paint is by far my favorite tool for home renovations. Its easy to apply and has the power to completely transform any space. My kitchen was dark and dingy before, and now its light and bright!

Way better right?

Check out my tutorial for a DIY dog bed just like I have in my kitchen!

The hardest part was installing drywall around the post. The main reason this renovation took me so long was that freaking drywall post. I had no idea how to install, tape, or mud drywall – let alone build an entire post. It took me a while to build the courage to just go for it. I didn’t know how to drywall but I decided I would learn by doing! The finished post is far from perfect but I am SO proud of myself. I created something beautiful and I learnt something new!

Here is the infamous post I made all by myself!

Can you believe this kitchen renovation only cost me $100. Plus it only took me about 5 days to finish. I bought all my supplies from The Home Depot. The sheet of drywall was only around $12. They do have a damaged drywall section (in store only) where they offer discounts of up to 50% off. This is great if you only need a smaller piece for your project. I also purchased drywall screws for $6.50, and corner tape for $14.75. If you’re going to attempt your own drywall project I highly suggest purchasing a jib saw (I bought this one for $13). You can use a box cutter to cut the drywall to size, but you’ll need a jib saw to cut out holes for your switches. My only other purchases were paint and it brought my total to just under $100.

I hope my before and after kitchen remodel inspired you to finish up your own projects! A little work goes a long way, don’t wait years to finish your project like I did.

When you have a small kitchen, it NEEDS to be functional. Check out these small kitchens that hit the mark on style, AND function!